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Finger-Licking Bad

The Food Section noted yesterday a study conducted at Texas Tech University that analyzed food-safety practices on Food Network cooking shows. In the end, positive behaviors—washing hands, fruits, and vegetables, cleaning equipment—were far outweighed by the negative—improperly sampling food and failing to wash anything. Of course, these shows are entertainment, not strictly educational; and what home cook hasn’t dipped a spoon or a finger into a pot or bowl to make sure all the flavors are balancing correctly? Among the worst offenders was Paula Deen, who is as well known for her visceral pleasure in food as the wantonly hedonistic dishes she makes (deep-fried cheesecake?). Here, she makes hot-and-spicy buffalo wings: note how she scandalously fails to wash her hands after handling raw chicken, and licks sauce off her finger.